Two Ambassadors, Others Injured In Batticaloa
February 27, 2007 at 1:56 pm · Close Watch · Updates
Two Ambassadors, Others Injured In Batticaloa
(Updates with transfer of Italian Amabassador to Colombo, LTTE comment)
The Italian & US ambassadors were slightly injured in motor shells which landed while on a visit to Batticaloa on Tuesday, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who was on the visit told JNW. They were getting down from a helicopter at around 8.40 am and about to board vehicles when two mortar shells fell in the Batticaloa Weber stadium.
The Media Centre for National Security said one student, three STF personnel and 4 policemen were also injured due to the mortars and shrapnel.
The ambassadors were evacuated to safety while the Italian ambassador was transferred to Colombo for a CT Scan, the Medial Superintendent at the Batticaloa Hospital said. The Japanese, Canadian and German ambassadors were also in the group.
The LTTE was quoted on Tamilnet as saying that they ceased fire immediately when they were informed by a UN official that there were foreign diplomats present.